ELIZABETH CHARLES - Inconsistent records

[Bookman]

Elizabeth Charles is my great-grandmother and I have a marriage certificate for 1850 that states she was 22 at the time of her marriage to John Jones - ie she was born in 1828.

The census records show that, in 1881 she was born in 1831; in 1871 she was born in 1829; in 1861 she was born in 1826. In 1851 (when she was married to John Jones) I can only find a census record in her old name, living with her father and showing that she was born in 1833. If this is her in 1851, then she would have been married at age 17.

Is it possible that this 1851 record is of the Elizabeth Charles (actually Jones) and she lied about her age? In which case why is she not living with her husband?

Can anyone comment on this or even advise me about how to confirm what is going on?

Many thanks.

[Geoffers]

Inconsistent ages are not uncommon and the degree of variation you have given is well within bounds.

As to why she might still be living with her dad under her single name - perhaps she had married in secret and not told him??? Maybe she was waiting for the right time to mention in passing, "by the way dad, I have some news........."

Don't foget that the census does not necessarily record where someone was living - just where they were on a particular night. Her protective dad might have filled in the schedule and since she was recently married, recorded her under his surname? Was he widowed and relying on his daughter to do housekeeping/look after him?

Do you have a copy of the marriage certificate? If so, what does it record?

[Bookman]

The marriage certificate shows she was married in 1850 and that her father is named (and occup. is cabinet maker) - but, I suppose it does not necessarily mean he was at the wedding. His name does not appear as a witness.

She is (if it is the right Elizabeth Charles) recorded in 1851 as being his housekeeper, and there are no others at that residence on that day. Although he is recorded on the census as age 68 he is also recorded as being a cabinet maker, which matches the marriage certificate.

I certainly had not considered that he might not have known about the marriage - Wow!

It can be most frustrating when there are these uncertainties. I'm still trying to make a connection with Thomas Charles of Bala.

Many thanks for your suggestions.